Chemotherapy and Your Mouth

Chemotherapy

and Your Mouth

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES National Institutes of Health

Are You Being Treated

With Chemotherapy for Cancer?

If so, this booklet can help you. While chemotherapy helps treat cancer, it can also cause other things to happen in your body called side effects. Some of these problems affect the mouth and could cause you to delay or stop treatment. This booklet will tell you ways to help prevent mouth problems so you'll get the most from your cancer treatment. To help prevent serious problems, see a dentist ideally 1 month before starting chemotherapy.

A dentist can help prevent mouth problems.

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How Does

Chemotherapy Affect the Mouth?

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to treat cancer. These drugs kill cancer cells, but they may also harm normal cells, including cells in the mouth. Side effects include problems with your teeth and gums; the soft, moist lining of your mouth; and the glands that make saliva (spit).

It's important to know that side effects in the mouth can be serious. ? The side effects can hurt and make

it hard to eat, talk, and swallow. ? You are more likely to get an infection,

which can be dangerous when you are receiving cancer treatment. ? If the side effects are bad, you may not be able to keep up with your cancer treatment. Your doctor may need to cut back on your cancer treatment or may even stop it.

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What Mouth Problems Does Chemotherapy Cause?

You may have certain side effects in your mouth from chemotherapy. Another person may have different problems. The problems depend on the chemotherapy drugs and how your body reacts to them. You may have these problems only during treatment or for a short time after treatment ends. ? Painful mouth and gums. ? Dry mouth. ? Burning, peeling, or

swelling tongue. ? Infection. ? Change in taste.

You can see or feel most of these problems. Check your mouth every day.

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Why Should I See

a Dentist?

You may be surprised that your dentist is important in your cancer treatment. If you go to the dentist before chemotherapy begins, you can help prevent serious mouth problems. Side effects often happen because a person's mouth is not healthy before chemotherapy starts. Not all mouth problems can be avoided but the fewer side effects you have, the more likely you will stay on your cancer treatment schedule.

It's important for your dentist and cancer doctor to talk to each other about your cancer treatment. Be sure to give your dentist your cancer doctor's phone number.

When Should I See a Dentist? You need to see the dentist 1 month, if possible, before chemotherapy begins. If you have already started chemotherapy and didn't go to a dentist, see one as soon as possible.

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